Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp makes Loris Karius admission after Alisson arrival

The Anfield manager has demoted Karius to make world-record £65million signing Alisson his first-choice goalkeeper.

But Klopp will not ditch his fellow German and instead claims he can still help the team by competing with Alisson.

Klopp knows competition will bring the best out of his talented squad and he wants Karius to spur the Brazil international.

“Obviously Alisson is a world-class goalkeeper, so we’re not going to say, ‘Let’s have a look’,” said Klopp. “He will play, of course. He is the No1 for Brazil and then there is the fee. When Alisson is ready, he will be in our goal.

“We all need to help him so he can perform as good as possible. That is maybe the only difference.

“But for that to happen we need a strong squad around him and Loris is an outstanding goalkeeper. That’s the truth. Nothing else.

“My job, together with Michael Edwards and Mike Gordon, is to bring the best players who are available for Liverpool, if they fit in.

“That’s what we have tried to do. Then my job is to work with these boys and give them this kind of shape that they can really work together in the best possible way.”

Klopp has tried to nurture Karius since he signed him from Mainz two years ago and insists he will still help him as he battles to recover his confidence following his collapse in form.

“That will not change,” said the manager. “Whatever we do in these situations, it’s nothing for the public. It’s not a case of ‘he said this’ or ‘he said that’. There’s nothing to say in public.”

Klopp is expected to continue his goalkeeping overhaul following Danny Ward’s departure to Leicester by letting Simon Mignolet leave if he receives a suitable offer.

Mignolet, who is still on holiday following the World Cup, is now Liverpool’s third-choice keeper and his playing prospects are very slim.

Alisson will join up with Liverpool at the start of next week for the mini training camp in Evian and Klopp says he will probably make his debut a few days later against Napoli in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on August 4.

“I would say so,” said Klopp. “When I saw him at Melwood, he looked fit. He’s desperate to play. He wanted to stay, but it made absolutely no sense.

“He’s had a long year. As Brazil No1, it was quite an intense year! The World Cup is not a tournament you only play a little bit, it was intense. So I sent him on holiday again.

“There will still be two games to play before West Ham and then West Ham is only the first game of the season, not the last one. So we will see.”